Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-11-17
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
These two poor children stood side by side
in the greenhouse, dumb with sorrow, almost
incapable Of thought, as though their hearts
were scorched by lightning For poor
Suzanne to DO obliged TO tell this fearful tale.
which she had buried SO deep in her young
heart that her father had not discovered it in
ten long years, was almost like living it over
again in reality. She bad said truly she
was doomed to q lonely, loveless life. And
she loved Raymond with deep and abiding
passion, but hopeless one.
Raymond had thought nothing could aug
ment his love for Suzanne before, but now
this revelation showed him her noble charac-
ter, and his love centupled, mingled with a
respect so profound that it bordered upon
veneration, and deep compassion filled his
soul for the sufferings this young girl had
SO worthily borne.
SNOW" said she, "you know all. Let us
say one last adiou."
"Adieu? Mol A thousand times no. My
life belongs to you now, more than ever I
shall live to suffer with and for you"
"Oh, Raymond, we must say goodby;
prefer to feel myself alone to suffer and to re-
member. Leave mo to my solitude and sor-
row."
But he answered: II prefer to love you and
shall always do So"
Then they said goodby, sadly and sorrow
fully, without more than hand clasp and a
lingering look
He rushed out into the forest, where he
wandered about, not knowing or caring
where and not returning to his home until
late ct night.
Suzanne sat weeping for while, and then
gathered up her strength to try and reach
her own room. As she passed a large plant
which stood between her and the door lead
ing to the house sho found her father lying
unconscious on the floor, not ten feet from
where she had stood with Raymond, and he
had heard all
She threw herself on her knees beside him
and kissed him wildly. She called for assistance
while feeling his chest to discover if his heart
beat. 1t did, but feebly, and she called him
by endearing names She opened window
to give him air. Servants came and they did
everything they could to restore him, but IL
was one long hour before he revived.
Remembrance came to him with conscious
ness, and he heaved a deep sigh, and reclosed
his eyes and lay for a time in silence gather
ing his faculties. Finally he signed to the
servants to leave him, and when they We're
gone no said with effort: $50, then, unhappy
child, you have not forgottenl'
Suzanne knelt beside him and hid her face
on his breast, weeping bitterly.
"Do not cry 1t is not your fault, my poor
lamb. We cannot command our memory.
But you have given me great pain. never
suffered so acutely since the day saw your
mother and you accuse me, by your silence,
before the judge. What shall do to provo
toyoui For, my child. am innocent of that
crime. / am innocent, Suzanne. Do you
hear mef'
''Oh, father, the past is gone; let US forget
it and be happy together. you and l."
mo, the question is now opened between
us and you must know all. Twas and am
still a victim"
''But mother and saw you
"Saw me, oh, child saw me kiln that poor
old mans"
ayes; we were on the balcony. We saw
you come up the street, hiding under the
shade Of the trees. We called you, but you
did not answer. Then you went into the
house. There was man there counting
money, then horrible struggle, then pistol
shot, and darkness"
The young girl placed her hands before her
eyes.
"And you both knew mes'
81 assure you we did. That is why my
mother made me promise silence, for what
must have said would have been so dread
full"
"But you were SO young, you might have
been mistaken"
II was young at night, father, but l have
been old ever since. If have appeared gay
it was to render you happy. But, mother;
she could not have been mistaken, too, coul,i
shea"
"Yes, my child did not commit that
crime, and only enc person believed in my
innocence-Lucien De Noirville He OWNED
the truth, and his death was caused by it.
Listen, Suzanne. The time has come when
must tell you all, and though I am ashamed
through all my nature to have to tell you
this, it must be told, and it will be an
other punishment added to those I have
already borne Do you remember all tho in.
cidents relating to that trial!"
"Alas, father
"That which condemned me more than all
was that the money had paid the dead man
was found in my possession, and will tell
you about that"
And then Roger began at tho beginning
and told the whole story until the end, though
as he told her about tho woman who had
brought the money, he blushed painfully with
shame.
She blushed, too, but believed every word
Of that unhappy story, and felt that her
father was indeed an innocent man, victim Of
| some foul plot.
ooh, father, pardon me, she cried, as she
| knelt beside him, and she covered his hands
with penitential kisses and tears.
II forgive you freely. my child You could
not have known"
"But, father some one was guilty-some
one who looked like you. was dressed like you,
whom and mother saw. Who can be beP'
"That is where the mystery begins, my dear.
There is a guilty one, and my presence In
France is for the sole purpose OF discovering
him. feel that shall not die until l have
discovered the murderer of Larouette. live
in the hope Of having my sentence reversed
by law and my good name restored"
During more than a week Roger lay sick
and Suzanne remained by his side, and never
were that unfortunate couple so happy, for
now there were no moro shadows between
them and they could talk upon the subject
which engrossed both their minds. Raymond
had tried in vain to meet Suzanne, but as she
went out no more he naturally could not see
her, and at last, one Sunday, he could bear
the suspense no longer. He must see her, he
felt or die; besides he had something to say
to her which he hoped might lift the dark
pail which had fallen over their young lives.